SCOTTISH Borders Council is to host a series of community events to discuss local property plans and the future of public toilets.

The sessions have been set up across the region, to give residents the chance to have their say on priorities for publicly owned land and buildings.

The discussions will include the future of civic buildings and offices, contact centres, libraries, community centres and other meeting spaces, commercial properties, vacant properties and parks and open spaces.
And the fate of public toilets will also be discussed.

Councillor Jim Brown, who is the chairman of the Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership Strategic Board, told the Peeblesshire News: “Public organisations in the Borders face some big challenges and major opportunities in the coming years.

“The landscape in which we operate has changed dramatically over the past decade and the pace of change – driven by technology, the squeeze on public sector finance and changes in both the size and age profile of the population – continues to grow.

“We constantly need to rethink and re-prioritise what we provide and find better ways of doing things so that essential services are maintained and improved, as well as make some difficult decisions.

“Organisations like the council will not be able to continue to maintain the large number of buildings it has and we will need to look at which properties we should keep – and invest in – and which ones we no longer require and look at options for these.

“Topics will include legislation, the opportunities and challenges facing public bodies and communities in the coming years and a look at the types of land and property we have and what the future could hold for them.”

The Peebles event will take place on Wednesday, March 8, in the Burgh Hall from 7pm to 8.30pm.